City stays defiant on RV parking ban lawsuit

Advocates for homeless had hoped council would enter into negotiations

“We filed the suit expecting the city to defend the measure and so this really doesn’t change how we’re looking at things.”

— Michael Trijullo, staff attorney with Law Foundation of Silicon Valley

MOUNTAIN VIEW >> Rather than rescind an ordinance prohibiting RV dwellers from parking on narrow streets, the City Council has decided to fight an ACLU lawsuit that alleges the ban is unconstitutional.

After the council had a threehour closed session Wednesday night, City Attorney Krishan Chopra announced he’ll be defending the city.

The decision was a blow to advocates for homeless people who live in RVs and other oversized vehicles who had hoped the council would back off after the American Civil Liberties Union sued.

Six plaintiffs filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of all people who live in RVs and other oversized vehicles in the city.

They RV dwellers are among a growing group of people that, because of the Bay Area’s affordable housing crisis, had chosen to live in its vehicles on streets in cities

like Pacifica, Palo Alto and Berkeley.

On July 14, Mountain View residents gathered outside City Hall to protest of the city’s RV ban and support the lawsuit, which says the ban is “unconstitutional” and “inhumane.”

In November, 57% of

Mountain View voters approved a ballot measure making RV parking illegal and the City Council followed up by calling for enforcement of the ban this summer. The first “no parking” signs are set to be put up this month in the city’s northwest side.

Under the ban, RVS and oversized vehicles can’t park on 444 of the city’s 525 streets.

The council’s decision

to fight the lawsuit won’t change things for the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, staff attorney Michael Trijullo said Thursday.

“We filed the suit expecting the city to defend the measure and so this really doesn’t change how we’re looking at things,” Trujillo said. “We are still open to discussions with the city, but we remain confident the ordinance will be found unconstitutional in the courts.”

The city of Mountain View did not return a request for comment.

Former Mountain View Mayor Lenny Siegel said he expected Wednesday’s outcome.

“This still doesn’t prevent them from negotiating with the plaintiffs’ attorneys, and it’s probably what the court will direct,” Siegel said. “It’s no big surprise given the fact the voters supported this.”